My Year In Review.

So, I haven't updated this blog of mine for about 10 months. Honestly, I sort of forgot I even had it. But the other day I was reading a blog about a friend of mine's step sister and her ups and downs and it inspired me to start blogging again. In a way it seems like therapy. Her blog address is, http://www.30saresomething.blogspot.com check it out. I love the way she writes. 

Leaving off from my last post, Derby(my adopted dog-child) is wonderful. Honestly in the beginning I was a little worried on how it was going to work with her. My cats hated her, she was having anxiety issues and wouldn't let me out of her sight. She was hyper active, peeing in the floor, still very much in the puppy stage. The longer I had her the better she's gotten but I went on vacation and when I got back she has been so different. Not as hyper and needy, minds so much better. I cannot explain to you the love I have for my dog. People who don't feel this way or haven't felt this way about an animal think I'm silly. But, she really did save me. I feel like she brought light back into my life, giving me a reason to get up every day other than just going to work. She never leaves my side, and comforts me when I'm sick. She is almost human, and a better soul than some that I know. I love her so much. My cats are unfortunately living with my parents. It really bothers me and I can't hardly talk about it without choking up, because it was not my intention at all to get a dog and get rid of them. I honestly thought they'd eventually get used to her. But they haven't and they seem so happy with my parents. They get so much love and attention, a big house with a basement to roam, and my dad has completely spoiled them on wet cat food. :) shew, dads! Plus, I get to see them daily when I visit. 

In June, some friends and I took off on a plane to Clearwater, FL. It was just for a long weekend and it was a lot of fun just to get away with some mature girls. All of which we're married except for me. Ha. The rain really put a damper on our beach time but we still had a lot of fun and made the best of it. Sam, my best friend who I lived with for 5 years through college was the one who put it all together. It was great being back with her with no other distractions. Not that our lives have distractions, but you know what I mean. Anyway, while we were in Florida I was on Facebook and this cute guy that I was Facebook friends with added some pictures so I decided to be a little flirty and "like" one of them. Me liking this photo prompted him to message me. We immediately were flirting back and forth and exchanging numbers. On July 4th, he asked if I wanted to go Lexington's Red, White, and Boom! It's really unlike me to just go off with people that I don't really know. For one I am not spontaneous at all, and two I am actually really shy. I've came a long way. Anyway, I told him yes, little did I know he already had a date for it but wanted to ask to see what I said! Jerk! Haha. But I'm glad he wiggled out of that, bc he now resides in Vanceburg. His name is Blake Roser. We both went to Morehead State University together in Morehead, KY. We are the same age but we really didn't know each other very well, just enough to speak to one another. I think maybe we met through a mutual friend at the time, but sadly we don't remember. He had just gotten back in June from Djibouti Africa on a deployment. Talk about timing! Anyway, to make a long mushy story shorter...we hit it off instantly. Literally, instantly. I felt oddly comfortable around him which is rare for me. I usually can't eat in front of guys for several weeks. Ha.  I'm extremely strange (it used to be just people not guys, and I didn't eat lunch not even one time in middle or high school and would take crackers with me and nibble on them between classes). See. I'm a weirdo. Like I've said, I've come a long way. My shyness really was more like a handicap. Back to Blake. I felt like we were in our own little world that night, and that's just how I wanted to be. The next day we talked and messaged each other all day. It was a really hard time in my family bc my aunt Becky had just passed away. She was one of the most rare loving people on Earth. Heaven truly gained an angel. It was hard, and Blake was just making it easier. I was sitting in the funeral home, and he sent me a picture and a long message about how he was praying for me. PRAYING FOR ME! I honestly have dated some really nice guys, with good morals that come from good families but I cannot think of any one of them that told me they were praying for me. He was genuine about it. In that moment, I realized he was already different. They say when you meet the right person, that you'll know. I have thought I met that person a few times. Haha. But now I see the difference. Maybe it's timing, maybe it's maturity, maybe it's God and just meant to be but whatever it is, is what I hope everyone can have. He completely lights my life, makes me feel beautiful even when I'm not at all, he loves Derby just as much as I do and he really wants to do things that make ME happy. Not just what make him happy, and to be honest that's a big change for me. We've been together for 6 months now and in one way it seems like so much longer and in another it all seems so new. I don't want to make you roll your eyes anymore, or gag or whatever it is your doing. Just know this, I am broke, stressed easily, anxious, 29, and a few other things I won't mention but I am the happiest I've ever been. Having a house is nice, but not having anyone in it when you come home isn't. People take relationships for granted. It's really genuinely awesome to have someone to just have dinner with, watch a movie with, ask how my day is, put up a Christmas tree with, etc. That saying about finding your other half and feeling completed, well it's true and if you haven't found that, don't settle. If you have found it but the spark needs to be lit again, find a way for it to be. Sure all the lovey dovey stuff fades away, I'm not saying that I think it's all roses and unicorns from here. But whatever the bad stuff is, I know I have someone to go through it with me and that helps me sleep at night.


The same weekend I met Blake, I turned 29. Although that was a pretty great birthday present, I honestly cannot believe I am in my LAST year of my thirties. Are you joking? Do I look 29? I definitely don't act it (haha). Other then gaining some weight, my girls are still perky, I don't really have any lines on my face, I still have a young voice, I don't drink coffee, I still like lucky charms, my parents are still my best friends, storms are still scary, I won't watch scary movie, I just don't feel like I've gotten any older. I see kids that were truly CHILDREN that are now taller than me. It's so weird. Everyone around me is having babies. I think I'm destined to be last. Maybe my friends kids will be around to babysit my kids? Right? Good idea? But for real, I cannot remember a time where I didn't love dolls, and Barbies. My entire childhood was playing mom, naming my 6 kids, and my imaginary boyfriend who ironically looked a lot like Ashley Cooper, my neighbor boy down the street. I've been collecting wedding magazines since I was sixteen, that is not an exaggeration. I know it's semi-cray. But I'm okay with that. It's who I am. It took a few broken hearts for me to realize that I can do all the dreaming and planning of a wedding that I want but it will never make a marriage. So, although I still hope to have a wedding, I don't obsess like I used to. But anyway, my point is...I always though I'd be first. First for marriage, and babies. But I'm definitely on my way to being last. I'm a top contender for it. I know I know, all in Gods time. But for real I am ready.

Shew, I can't believe I just said that out loud, er.....wrote that out loud!? Confessions of Sarah.


So what else has my life consisted of since my last update...
We celebrated my grandmas 87th birthday in August (I feel so blessed).
Willow my cousin-niece (she's really my cousin but more like a niece) is growing like a weed. Her hair is a beautiful orange. I say orange bc it simply isn't red and I don't understand why we call red heads redhead when they are technically orange heads. Just saying. She says my name like "sewah" which makes my heart melt every time. This coming April, she will be 2! On that same day my momma will be 66! That 100% freaks me out and if she knew I put her age in here she'd kill me (sorry mom you totally rock your age).
In September, we celebrated Blake's 30th birthday.
In October, me and Blake dressed up as Barbie and Ken, I'll post pics below. Hilarious and fun. The kids loved it. Blake is a troooooooper. :)
Also in October my entire family minus one...when I say my entire family I mean my parents, grandma, three aunts, 5 of my cousins, 2 uncles, and a few others + Blake went to a place we've been going since I can remember in Florida. We go to the town of St. Augustine (the oldest city in the US) and we stay a condo resort type place called. Ocean Gallery. It honestly has become like a second home and we probably should have just invested in condos there. Anyway, we went there for a week and the weather was gorgeous and perfect and we ended the week in a wedding ceremony on the beach for my aunt Paula (Willows Mimi) and my new uncle Jim Lykins (my dad's good friend and my high school teacher). It was beautiful and very exciting! I'll try to add some pics of that too.

Other than that, we've had a healthy happy year. I'm in the best place I've ever been in emotionally. I'm so so so extremely happy in all aspects of my life. I've lost 20 pounds and I'm working on losing another 10.

I'm typically going to only update this about beauty, health, decorating, and other products....but I just wanted to give you all an update on my life to get you caught up. I promise I'm going to start finding really cool things to talk about because....well, it's just fun.

FYI I realize my grammar is off , and that's how I like it.

Pictures Below.

To the left I am in Clearwater, FL holding some parrots in one of my favorite Lilly Pulitzer dresses :). Yes, the birds are real, and they were smart and sweet. 

Me, Audra, and Jessica 

My best friend in the whole world, Sam.

Our first date (red, white and boom) 

Isn't he handsome?

Ceremony of Mr & Mrs Lykins, in St. Augustine 

So sun kissed. 

Blake and mom

My daddy 

Willow

Paula's bouquet that I made with the help of mom! I loved it. 

Barbie and Ken

Merry Christmas from Blake, Derby & Sarah 

turn the junk in the trunk to a treasure trunk.

SO lately I have been on this getting healthy and trying to be "hot" kick. Which is good bc usually I have no motivation.
I've been going through old beach pictures, college pictures, blogs, and this is promting me to get in shape and be healthy. I know I will probably never be a size 4 anymore, and to be completely honest I don't want to be. I want to be a healthy Sarah, but with a toned body that I am comfortable in.

I have a lot of daily battles with myself in the body area. I do not feel comfortable in my own skin at all and this really affects me in all areas of my life. I've really always been this way, but not to the same degree.

So here is my plan...

-Fiber + Protein. I don't get enough of either.
-More water, less Diet Coke. :( This is tough for me bc I am truly trulllllly addicted to Diet Coke. I will continue to drink in the morning to help with headache and waking up...but then I need to drink water water water the rest of the day.
-Exercise!!!! I need exercise. A few weeks ago I adopted a dog...I named her Derby (yes, like Kentucky Derby) and she is wonderful and full of energy. But she needs exercise and I think this is going to help ME get it too! I need to walk, run, use my elliptical, do my work out videos, and just try to change it all up different days of the week. Right now, Kentucky weather has just been wet and cold and I have had no desire to go out in it.
-Body Wraps and Detox. I've only used ItWorks once, but the body wraps are high on a lot of my friends lists...so I want to get in on that!
-singing and dancing
-I hear kissing burns calories too ;)

My friend Alicia talked me into do a 5k called Color me Rad in Lexington, KY. It was sooo much fun. I need to sign up for more things like that just to get as much movement as I possibly can. Last summer I wouldnt hardly even get out in the pool in front of my family and I refuse to be that way this summer. So WISH ME LUCK on losing about 25 pounds and toning this up. I wanna turn my "junk in the trunk to a treasure in the trunk" ;).



My new addition!



90% Complete...

Happy February! In the hills of north eastern Kentucky we have SNOW! Normally, I'm not much of a fan of snow...I prefer color outside, and warmth. But today it was nice to wake up to see some pretty white snow outside. However, it better melt before this evening. Nothing is stopping me from seeing my new man. Wait, what? Yes you read that right. Here I was blogging about being single a month ago, and now "Voila" I have a new and exciting relationship...no details yet...but I am happy, giddy and want to listen to love songs every time I get in a car. :)

So I have almost lived at 546 for 2 months now. I've slowed way down on the "fixing it up to make it mine" stuff. I have plenty of projects that include painting my cabinets, getting counter tops, putting up a back splash in the kitchen, putting the new hardware on the cabinets, painting my buffet, hanging blinds, hanging curtains, stripping wall paper, painting more, hanging pictures, painting ceilings, doors and touching up the trim. Eventually I want moulding around the ceilings in the kitchen and living room. I want it to look more "finished". The bathroom needs a baseboard, so does the new closet. Anyway, as you can see I have plenty more to do, and I'm just simply burn out on it. When I come home from work, I crash. I just want to be lazy.

The living room and bathroom are pretty much complete (hence the title of this blog, 90%). I didn't take many before pics. Everything was in really great shape though. The baseboards and windows were a very dark wood, they were very pretty and to be honest I cringed when I painted them. But I wanted to brighten things up, and there were so many scratches that it just seemed like painting it white would be best. Here are some before and after pictures of both the living room and bathroom!

LIVING ROOM BEFORE: Pics are kind of dark :(



The baseboards and trim were a beautiful dark wood. However, they were very scratched up and I wanted to lighten things up, so I painted it white. I love how they turned out even though I was sad to paint over the wood finish.




This is the living room when you enter from the front door. Paneling on one wall. I removed the baseboard heater, and covered the wall with grasscloth wall paper in a neutral color. Then I painted the ceiling white, and walls "Holmes Cream" from Valspar. The carpet was in great shape.





Bathroom Pics Before...



The bathroom was tiled in a tile that has a design that looks a lot like linen. I plan on painting that little shelf book case thing the same color as the walls. I had painted the color that it is years ago, and it matched pretty well.




The color of the walls is called "Murky Waters" and the accent color is called "Tumbleweed tan". They are dutch boy colors but I took the paint chips to Lowe's and they matched the colors with the formula in Valspar Signature paint. I love the colors!




The facuet is new, vanity is new, towel holder thingy, mirror, and lighting are all new. I got a great deal on the vanity at Lowe's bc it was one they had on the floor. Let's put it this way, the facuet and the vanity ended up being the same prices.




YAY for blinds! Mom made that valence above the window with some fabric I had bought years ago.




Behind the door in the bathroom I had Luke (my Mr. Fix it) to cut a hole out and put some shelves in for towels. There isnt much storage, and the other side of this wall was a closet. It worked out perfectly!



New tile!




Can you tell I have a thing for Birds?

 There ya have it!







"I've lost my fun"

Well, this post is going to be a little bit different. I've been thinking about this past year a lot, and what the future is going to hold and I decided it was time to put some of my thoughts into words even if no one reads it.

 

2012 is coming to an end and tomorrow night I will be ringing in the new year with friends. I have to admit I am really looking forward to a new year. I'm hoping that this new year is a new beginning for me in a lot of ways; mostly health and love. Of course, I do always get a little sappy to see another year of life pass but sometimes a new year is just what a person needs.

 

I've been reflecting a lot about last year and the year before that. Last NYE I spent it with one of my best friends. She is single and we always seem to go through things at the same time and have a lot of the same emotions. We go through up's and down's together so it felt really good to ring in the new year with someone that wants and desires the same things as me but doesn't have them. I will definitely be thinking of her tomorrow night. I will be with another good friend that I feel goes through a lot of the same things too. It's funny but I find being alone on NYE is worse than being single on Valentine's Day. I always imagine bringing in the new year with someone you love, sharing memories and making promises for a better tomorrow. I guess I am getting to do that, just in a friend version. I am happy that I get to be with friends though, it's just what I need. This reminds me to bring your attention to the title of this post, "I've lost my fun". I used to consider myself a bit of a social butterfly. When I was in college I ALWAYS wanted to be where everyone else was. I kept myself busy (probably a little more than I should have) and then after I graduated and moved to Lexington I seemed to stay even busier. I had several friends that lived there and it seemed like most nights of the week I had dinner plans or visitors. But what I missed more than anything was the comfort of my family. I wanted them in my every day life, my parents, grandma, aunts and cousins are what is most important. Not that my friends are any less, but it's a different kind of importance. Now that I live back in my home town and have my family around, I get so bored and miss all of my friends. I've noticed I now have social anxiety and what I find fun is sitting on my couch in slouchy clothes watching reality tv and drinking wine. I feel like I have lost my fun. Where did Sarah go? This isn't me.

 

I reflect on 2011. Worst year ever. After a three year long relationship with the person I loved more than anyone else in the world, I was dumped. Yep, dumped. On the phone. I trusted him with my life. There was never any doubt in my mind that he didn't love me or want his future to be with me. I was blind sided, or so I thought. I had realized that the butterlfies had died, maybe we were too comfortable with each other, maybe things had changed somewhat...but I didn't love him any less. I wanted him at my place even if he was in the other room in his pj's watching basketball and I was watching some crappy television show. Just knowing that he was there was enough for me. He was my comfort and honestly he was the best part of my day. I looked forward to seeing him and telling him about my day. I hated my job, I barely could afford rent, but at least I had him. I adored his family from the beginning...I felt like they accepted me as one of their own right from the start. His friends had become my friends too. In most ways, I thought we were on the same page. We both liked spicy food, we loved our families, we wanted the same things, we had a lot of the same political views, we drank diet coke and miller lite, the list goes on...I just didn't understand how he could say "he couldnt do this anymore". Do what?! I did everything he wanted me to do. What it really was....he felt major pressure ( FROM EVERYONE) approaching out 3 year anniversary to propose and he was scared.

 

The Break Up:

We had went to a wedding (one of many over the past 3 years) the previous weekend. He was just acting different. He had lost his romance, and I had lost my fun. Things just seemed different that weekend. I remember I went out for the bouqet toss and I felt wrong in even going out there. Most of the time I avoided even going and would slip off to the bathroom just so I could avoid the weirdness. Then they called for the single guys to come out...he went out (I was really surprised because he always found a way to get out of it) and he was the ONLY single guy out there and he joked and said nevermind and started walking back to the table. That wasn't embarrassing....NOT. Eventually other guys went out there, but I already felt hurt. The next morning we went back to Lexington, he just seemed in the worst mood and of course was feeling regret of the night before. We were meeting two other friends that we ran around to different places with. He was moody...and really made it miserable but I ignored it and tried having fun anyway. Later that evening the four of us went to an outside bar and had several drinks. I kept talking about marriage, and babies. I'm ready for that and that was never a secret in our relationship. He had told me several times that he wanted me to be his wife...I honestly thought he was getting ready to propose. I said something about "I have a certain time limit and if I'm not engaged by then, I'm done". I realize that this is NOTHING that a girl should say to a guy. But I felt disrespected and I felt like he needed to know I was ready and if he wasn't then things needed to happen. Well, I basically shot myself in the foot on that one bc he made things happen alright. He told me that I needed to go find someone else, but I ignored him. On the phone in the middle of the night, he told me he "just couldn't do this anymore". I was devastated.

 

A year and half later:

I haven't seen him. We haven't even spoken since I pulled in his drive way, gave him a box of his things, he gave me a box of mine...and that's it. We have mutual friends so sometime's that makes it tough bc I hear a lot about him. But I have had a LOT of thinking in 2012. A lot of finding myself and what I want and need. I haven't been in a relationship since. There have been about 3 other guys I have dated and "talked to", one of which I really really thought was going to turn into more...but they all have commitment issues. Or maybe it's just me, who know's. But I do know this about myself, I give EVERYTHING I have to my relationships. I do everything I can to make my significant other happy bc I'm just the type of person that if I know that I am making them happy, then I can be happy. But anyway...I have finally realized that God has been looking out for me. Maybe my prayers haven't been answered on my time, but he's got a plan and he's been looking out for me. I know that I have gotten really personal on a public site...but I needed to get this out. There are a lot of personal things I wont put on here about our relationship...but I am so thankful now that I have taken the time and weighed the good and bad. Even though he is a great person and I loved him, I know now that what he did was a favor to me. We weren't working from the very beginning. We had all odd's against us and a lot of people wanting us to fail. But there was one major thing in between us that caused the majority of our problems...and although most of the time I do think I was happy, there were those times that the bad came out...and when the bad came out that was probably some of my lowest most hurtful moments in my life. It's strange that the person that makes you the happiest and you love the most is also the one person that can hurt you the most and cut you the deepest. I felt disrespected, dependent, and deprived of what I deserve. I'm going to call that "My 4D's". :)

 

To sum it all up...what I am trying to say is:

 

I'm in a happy place. Yes, I am lonely and I do want to find a person who loves me and thinks that I am worth a commitment. But I am still happy, independent, smarter, and stronger. I have my bad days, but I have more good. I have my faith that God is there and he's looking out for me. It will happen on his time and terms...and the biggest prayer that I need is patience.

 

Here is to 2013. New beginnings, independence, stronger souls, more smiles, and letting go.

 

Cheers,

 

Sarah

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Hi all! I told you in my last post that I would update with some of my Christmas decor!

I am all moved in and the first thing I wanted to do (before even getting unpacked) was to decorate for Christmas! I still have so much more organizing and finding a place for everything but I really wanted to be able to enjoy living in my house during Christmas. Here are a few pictures!



My tree, and fireplace! SO cozy :) FYI-there are several people who have asked me where I got my tree topper (the hat) I actually found it in the Cracker Barrell store several years ago.





My precious mom bought me this! I think its a Hallmark ornament. It was exciting to finally have a stepping stone ornament (considering Im not married or a mother).



Yay, I finally have presents wrapped under the tree!



I bought this painted old window at a charity event for cystic fybrosis. I loved it! I hope to come across some old windows and do some painting myself! I hung it in one of my kitchen windows.



My beautiful wreath! No, I didn't make this but I would love to take credit for it! Ha...I have it hanging on a wall in my kitchen!



I made these little jars with epsom salt and cheap figurines. I stole the idea off a very craft friend. She has a blog and you should follow her for some amazing ideas and recipes. Its MommaHensCoop. If you check out the people I follow you will see her blog!

I also made some ornaments for work! I work in the PVA office where all of our county maps are so I wanted to find a way to have a themed tree! Here are some of those pictures.

Anyway, everyone have a very Merry Christmas and please keep praying for others...

Love,

Sarah



Five-Four-Six

I just realized that I have never posted a picture of the house. I was told it was built in the mid to late 1930's and it looks smaller from the outside than it actually is. It has a nice porch (that I cannot wait to get furniture for) and it faces the Ohio river. I don't have a great view of it, but there IS a tiny little section where I can see boats floating and water flowing. :) It is across from two of my favorite homes in Vanceburg. Both homes are old and have so much character, I will enjoy having them across the street (plus some pretty good neighbors too). Speaking of that, my friend Matt is a neighbor close by and my friend Chelcee is moving into her new place this week which is 3 doors down from mine! I'm looking forward to their company! The name of my blog..."in between the river and tracks" is literally where I live. I'd say my kitchen and dining area is about 20-25 feet away from the train tracks. I thought this was really going to bother me but it doesn't at all. Of course, I haven't actually stayed there yet (I'm hoping to get all clothes and personal items moved in this weekend) but I don't think the trains come through often enough to bother me. We'll see how the cats do. I already can't wait for next spring to plant flowers, and work on the outside landscaping. That's the only kind of getting my hands dirty that I like. I'm hoping to buy some shutters and do some painting as well!

I bought a new storm door for the house. I wanted something that was going to help with keeping the heat in because my front door is old and wooden and let's a lot of cold air inside, but it's one of the most charming things about the house. It's beautiful! So of course I wanted something that was head to toe glass to still be able to see the door! I bought a white door with brushed nickel fixtures on it, or so I thought. I was very specific when I was choosing the door. I did not want ANY sort of fake bright brass. So I bought the door, and had an extremely hard time fitting it in my car...then  Luke put the door up one day while I was at work. I pulled in and I immediately noticed that it was in fact the fake bright brass. Ugh. Nothing is simple. SO, Luke took the fixtures off, I returned to Lowe's and they switched them out with no questions asked. I will give them a thumbs up for taking things back; they have been amazing on that! I also had Luke install a new light for outside. It has that old look that I like and is in a pewter finish.

We also added a dead bolt to the front door. The front door had a skeleton key (which is so cute by the way) but you couldn't lock the door from the outside. So in order to use the front door you had to come in the back door and unlock it from inside. I had originally bought a whole new handle and was going to install it. But after Luke got to working on the door, he realized that the new handle and lock wasn't going to be able to work. So I took THAT back, and got just a dead bolt. He drilled the hole and I now have more security, access to the front door, AND I got to keep the beautiful original door knob and KEY. :) It's the small things that make me happy!

Here are a few pictures...



My little house!





See?! Pretty cute huh!?





Fall Decor





The old light fixture. I still think it's a neat light...





New light!!!


I will post again before Christmas is here. I want to show you my Christmas decorations!

Creepy Crawley Critters, and Checkerboard Tile~

Well, I've been meaning to update this thing for those of you who have been wondering about the progress of my house. Plus, I just sort of want to be able to record the changes for myself!

I haven't moved in yet. I have pieces of my life living there, but not actually me. It should be about another week for all of the projects to be finished enough for me to move in. Of course, there will be other projects for me to do once I get moved in, but the things I can't do, I have to wait on!

For starters, I told you to check in about creepy spiders. However, I didn't anticipate what was going to be living in my house. CAVE CRICKETS! Ahhh! I have found about five or six or a million (who's counting). Some dead, some alive, and some about half way dead or alive (that depends on if you are a glass half empty or full kind of gal). Anyway, at first glance they look to be about 2 inches long and the way they crawl and their legs make them look like spiders. But then they start HOPPING, and once you get close you realize they are actually in fact crickets. So I went to the old faithful friend, Google; and searched for what these critters are and the picture proved to me that they are "Cave Crickets". Ew. I hate bugs.


So onto the house...I have my kitchen tile completed! I am in LOVE with it. Before I even started thinking about buying a house I had always dreamed of having checkerboard tile throughout! I first had wanted black and white but once I got to thinking about how the style of the rest of my house and taste was really more in the brown family, I changed my mind. Plus, I feel like it's more neutral. So I went to Lowe's and picked out a Sahara Beige Tile, and Balantina Brown (both in 12x12 size) and I tried to find a neutral grout to compliment the two colors.

So then, the tile project begins for the kitchen. The kitchen had blue carpet all the way to the dining area side. The room where the dining area is had been added on to the house later, so the floors were not completely even. Luke (my Mr fix it, tile, everything guy) did a fabulous job and sanding down the floors and making it work. We added a border where the two rooms separate to help with settling. But the border matches perfect and I love it! After what seemed like forever to get the tile in the kitchen done, it's finally finished! I also had Luke build a closet around the washer & dryer, and around my water heater which was fully exposed in the dining/kitchen area. It helped SO much just by hiding it. Here are a few pictures before, during and after.



Blue carpet. Kitchen before, Don't mind my dad!



What was under the carpet...

 

Different view, BTW Look at that fabulous cabinet!



See, the washer and dryer needed to be hidden!



Closet going up to hide washer/dryer!




The Transformation has begun!



Water Heater needed to be hidden too! It took away from that cabinet!




Border! See how perfect they match?! You would think they were made for each other!



The color seems to be a little off in the picture. My paint is Valspar La Fonda Tile Red, but its defintely not red. The closet has new white doors! The tile turned out better than I had hoped!

I still have projects that I want to do of course... I plan on painting my cabinets a very white and putting up a white black splash. I plan on eventually getting new counter tops, appliances and light fixtures but that will have to wait a white. I did buy some oil rubbed bronze wall plates and light switches with new cabinet pulls and knobs. I will update you on that soon!